Hong Kong’s first female leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor revealed the pink qipao she wore for her inauguration was the only new dress she has worn over the past three days.

In a video uploaded on Lam’s new official Facebook page, which was launched on Saturday when she began her role as the chief executive, Lam, who was seen in numerous outfits during President Xi Jinping’s visit from Thursday to Saturday, explained most qipaos she wore were purchased long ago.

However, for Saturday’s inauguration ceremony when she was sworn in as the city’s leader, Lam said she wore a pink qipao and long white jacket tailor-made for the occasion.

“I want to promote design from Hong Kong. My outfit was designed by a renowned local fashion designer,” said Lam in the video, without revealing the name of designer.

She also added a reason for her love of qipaos: “As the first female chief executive, I want to display the features of oriental women.”

During her maiden political rally in February, while running for the chief executive election, Lam said her choice to wear qipaos was not political, nor meant to impress Beijing, but that she considered the dress “best showed the figure of Asian women”.

As for the rest of dresses she wore during Xi’s visit, Lam said they were from her collection of more than 30 qipaos, which she deemed sufficient for her use.

“I can match with different jackets to create various styles. Wearing used qipaos again and again is also being environment friendly. I hope to make best use of my qipaos,” said Lam.

Lam launched the official Facebook page and an Instagram account on Saturday, with her first post a photo and video showing her having hair done and make-up applied in a salon at 5.30am.